“I am trying to load Windows XP on a new computer I have just finished building (1st timer). I installed 2 WD Raptor 10,000 rpm SATA hard drives + a 250 GB EIDE drive. I want to configure the Raptors as RAID 0 for applications. However the XP disk partitioning utility (I suppose it’s FDISK) will not partition and install XP on the Raptors but wants to put it on the 250GB drive.

I am thinking I should install XP however I can, then configure the RAID 0 in XP, then copy the application to the Raptors.

Any thoughts?”

Answer from Sin

“Note: Your system BIOS may require you to change the order of your boot sequence before you can boot your computer from a controller.

To create a RAID 0 array please follow the steps below:

1. With the computer powered off, follow the instructions for installing the RAID controller correctly and connect both Serial ATA hard drives to the controller.

3. Watch your boot screens for a prompt that will ask you to press the Control and F keys at the same time to enter the Fastbuild utility and press those keys to enter.

4. Press the 1 key to enter Auto Setup.

5. Verify that the top of the screen says Optimize Array for: Performance.

6. If the top of the screen says Security instead of performance, highlight the word Security and press the right arrow button to change the word to Performance.

7. You should see that two hard drives are being used in the array and you will also see the total size of the array in MB.

8. Press the Control and Y keys at the same time to save the array configuration.

9. Press the Y key to create and quick initialize the array.

10. You will be warned that all data on the drives will be erased, press the Y key to proceed.

11. The array is now created, press any key to reboot.

To use the array for extra data storage only:

* Install the latest service pack for your operating system to enable large drive support and use Disk Management to partition and format the array.

To use the array as your bootable system drive:

* Set your BIOS to boot to CD first and boot from your Windows 2000/XP CD to load your operating system onto the array.

* Windows will treat the array as one large drive and will install on the array just as it would on a single drive.

* When you are prompted by Windows setup to press the F6 key to install SCSI or RAID drivers, you will need to press F6 and insert the driver disk that came with your RAID controller card.

* Once the drivers for the card are installed you will be able to finish the installation of Windows 2000/XP onto the array. After the installation of Windows, please install the latest service pack for Windows to enable large drive support and avoid data corruption.

Alternatively;

It is possible to copy your EIDE boot drive to a Serial ATA hard drive. Both Data Lifeguard Tools 11 for DOS and Data Lifeguard Tools 11 for Windows have a feature that will let you copy one hard drive to the other drive. As long as Data Lifeguard Tools can recognize the hard drive through your Serial ATA controller, you should be able to complete the drive copy. Western Digital cannot maintain a current list of tested Serial ATA controllers at this time because new controllers and drivers are released on an almost daily basis.”

Answer from thundershaft

“”Sin” cover almost everything…

If u want to install WIN XP on the raptors.. first.. u have to create the raid array.. Generally that would mean to activate the SATA ports in BIOS and then allow they to be RAIDED and Boot off of

Second.. create the array using “SIN” directions…

Third.. go to Intel website to get the ICH5R Sata drivers… it should unzip itself onto a floppy disk.. This is very important because u have to install this driver during winXP installation process… When the installation screen first appear.. on the bottom u should see a “press F6 if u would like to install 3rd party storage drivers”

This is where u put the disk in and press F6… WinXP installation will then look and install the drivers.. Only after that u will see ur raptors… Install WINXP normally on the raptors and you should have no problems”

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